Cabinet Decisions

Purchasing buses to provide transport facilities for schoolchildren

It has been proposed to provide buses for the benefit of schoolchildren in four educational zones in the Central Province and the proposed made by President Maithripala Sirisena, to purchase for passenger buses on the above proposal at a cost of Rs. 12.08 million as a pilot project under the ‘Daruwan Surakimu’ (Lets protect our children) national programme, was approval by the Cabinet of ministers.

Creation of young entrepreneurs in field of agriculture

It has been identified that lack of commercial-level entrepreneurs in the agriculture field is a main cause for the low productivity in the field. Hence, it has been planned to implement a programme to provide concessionary loans to 100 selected entrepreneurs in the Kurunegala District as a pilot project and up on its success, to facilitate 1,000 entrepreneurs in Wayaba, North Central and Eastern provinces as its second phase and to select 10,000 entrepreneurs from the whole island as the third step, with the view of increasing the contribution of the agriculture field in national production. The proposal, made by President Maithripala Sirisena, to implement the above programme, was approved by the Cabinet of ministers.

Agreement on Grant and implementation between Millennium Challenge Cooperation and Sri Lanka

MCC, a foreign aid agency of US, will provide a grant of USD 7.4 million for development of several fields in Sri Lanka during next five years. The proposal, made by Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, to sign the above agreement for obtaining the said Grant in implementing the relevant programme, was approved by the Cabinet of ministers.

Providing accommodation for the staff of defence services

Above college provides training for more than 130 officers annually and to improve its efficiency, the proposal made by President Maithripala Sirisena, as the Minister of defense, to construct a new three-storeyed building and a new four-storeyed building, for providing accommodations for its staff members, was approved by the Cabinet of ministers.

Preventing the use of HCFC, which is harmful to ozone layer

According to international conventions and obligations, the Cabinet appointed a technical committee on August 16, 2016, to make short and long-term recommendations to end the use of HCFC. The proposal, made by President Maithripala Sirisena, in his capacity as the Mahaweli Development and Environment Minister, to implement its recommendations, including the following, was approved by the Cabinet of ministers.

l Prohibition of importing use or reconditioned equipment with ozone-depleting substances which are mentioned in the Montreal Protocol.

l Prohibition of import, production and assemble of tads or accessories which uses HCFC that exceed the 100 value of global warming potential and 0.03 value of ozone-depleting potential, with effect from January 1, 2018 and to prohibit the same which do not exceed above value with effect from January 1, 2021.

l Imposing of a condition to issue environment protection permits for agencies in refrigerant and air conditioning fields, that they should have a refrigerant recovery and recycling machine with effect from January 1, 2019.

Payment of compensations for acquisition of lands for Moragahakanda project, which were given in lieu of lands acquired for Wemidilla Reservoir

People who lost their lands due to the Wemidilla reservoir project were given new lands in 2008 and as they were again acquired for Moragahakanda project, the proposal made by President Maithripala Sirisena, as the Mahaweli Development and Environment Minister, to pay financial compensation for 53 such persons, was approved Cabinet of ministers.

Preparation of a method to conduct practical examinations for issuing of driving licences in a qualitative and productive manner

It has been proposed to identify better methods to conduct practical examinations, as their monopoly has created some irregularities in issuing of driving licenses and low qualities of some drivers. Accordingly, the proposal made by Transport and Civil Aviation Minister Nimal Siripala De Silva, to appoint a committee of officials to prepare reports with suitable recommendations in this regard, was approved by the Cabinet of ministers.

National Health Policy

The current health policy was prepared in 1996, and a new policy has been prepared considering the concept of universal health coverage, for the 10-year period of 2016-2025. The proposal made by Health Nutrition and Indigenous Medicine Minister Dr. Rajitha senerathna, to grant approval for this policy, with the following key policy factors, was approved by the Cabinet of ministers.

l Strengthening of service-providing for healing objectives.

l Treatment service that can be accessed by all.

l Promotion of fare access to rehabilitation treatment service.

l Establishment of a planning method for continuous provision of services.

l Development of strategies for minimizing the personal expenditures of patients and minimizing financial risk.

l Assuring an expanded health system with better restructuring, including HR management.

l Building of strategic partnership with all service providers in the health sector.

Appointment of a board of governors for Ranminithenna National Tele-cinema Park

The proposal made by Finance and Mass Media Minister Mangala Samaraweera, to appoint the above board of governors, which comprises of experts in the relevant institutions, was approved by the Cabinet of ministers.

Conducting international-level training courses and workshops by Irrigation Training Institute

The proposal made by Irrigation and Water Resources Management Minister Wijith Wijayamuni Soyza, to provide facilities and for prepare an administrative and financial method for Kothmale International Training Institute of Irrigation and Water Management, on the above purpose, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.

Amendment of Judicature Act No 2 of 1978

Amendment of the above act has already been approved by the Cabinet and the proposal made by Justice Minister Dr. Wijayadasa Rajapaksha, to instruct the Legal Draftsman to draft amendments for considering JPs already appointed are valid to the District, which they were residing at the time of appointment and regulations for objective of implementing a code of ethics for JoPs, was approved by the Cabinet of ministers.

Making relief for Communities in estate areas affected by floods and landslides

About 872 families of above communities were affected in recent floods and the proposal made by Hill Country New Villages, Infrastructure and Community Development Minister U. Palani Digambaram, to implement relief activities including, resettlement, provision of rooting sheets, construction of toilets, water supply project, provision of water tanks and improve damaged Child Development Centers, at a cost of Rs. 500 million, was approved by the Cabinet of ministers.

Construction of academic and administrative buildings in nurses’ training schools, Kalutara

The proposal made by Health Nutrition and Indigenous Medicine Minister Dr. Rajitha Senarathne, to award the above contract at a cost of Rs.714.2 million (including tax), was approved by the Cabinet of ministers.

Modernisation of Jaya Container Terminal of Sri Lanka Ports Authority

The proposal made by Ports and Shipping Minister Mahindha Samarasinghe, to implement Phase V of modernisation activities to improve the capacity of terminal, was approved by the Cabinet of ministers.

Obtaining consultation services for the efficiency and productivity of disaster management process in Sri Lanka

The Proposal made by Disaster Management Minister Anura Priyadharshana Yapa, in this regard, was approved by the Cabinet of ministers.

Providing prompt solutions to issues occurred related to Uma Oya Multipurpose Development scheme

A Cabinet sub-committee was appointed at the cabinet meeting held on June 27 to present a report on difficulties faced by residents due to the above project. As the Chairman of the subcommittee, the proposal made by Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Development Minister and Mahaweli Development and Environment Minister Mahinda Amaraweera, to implement following recommendations with immediate effect, for providing reliefs for affected persons, was approved by the Cabinet of ministers.

l Construction of six large-scale underground wells in suitable places after conducting a proper study.

l Implementation of a special programme to provide water tanks for persons who have not yet received water tanks within next two weeks.

l Transferring of 20 tractor bowers of the Ministry of Home Affairs to Badulla District Secretary for strengthening the water distribution process.

l Accelerate the process of paying compensation for damaged properties.

l Improve the efficiency of the National Building Research Institute by establishing a special unit.

l Provide Rs.100 million to the provincial council for rehabilitation of rural roads in affected areas.

l Strengthening of Jana Sahana Secretariat, which is already being established to provide reliefs.

l Review the progress of relief operation fortnightly and monthly.

l Allocation of funds by budget 2018, to accelerate the Constructions of proposed water supply scheme in Bandarawela.

l Release of allocations of Rs. 100 million for reconstruction of affected small reservoirs.

l Grant the ownership of lands identified for resettlement to relevant families through Bandarawela Divisional Secretary with immediate effect.

l Provide additional Financial allocations required to rehabilitate affected schools.

l Granting of a two year Concessionary period for payment of housing and agricultural loan installments

l Implement a special alternative livelihood development plan in affected areas.

l Sealing of the water leaking in the tunnel by the Iranian company.

l Re-consideration of future excavation of the project only on recommendations made by international experts and a domestic committee of expert.